Eric Duncan, the Yankees' first-round pick in 2003, never made it to the big leagues. He retired after nearly 4,000 minor-league at-bats.

Written by

Chad Jennings
The Journal News

After 10 years and nearly 4,000 minor-league at-bats, the man who might have been playing third base for the Yankees was instead reading through an English syllabus. It outlined a semester of scheduled readings, told him when he'd take a midterm and set a date for his final exam. Eric Duncan saw it as a gift. Or maybe it was more like a promise.

"If I do my readings, take notes and study, I'm going to do well," Duncan said. "For so long, I would stay in shape, I would do my early work, I would do my homework on the pitcher, I would have a plan; and then either you get outside yourself, or you do everything ...